Doha, September 22 (QNA) - Syria seeks to forge a sustainable institutional partnership with the State of Qatar in the areas of integrity, transparency, anti-corruption and oversight, with a view to strengthening the capabilities of Syrian institutions and modernizing their tools by drawing on Arab and international expertise, Head of Syria's Central Authority for Supervision and Inspection Eng. Amer Al Ali said.

Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) during his visit to Doha to explore prospects for cooperation and participate in the sixth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Arab Convention against Corruption, Al Ali said the Syrian delegation was keen to gain firsthand insight into Qatar's institutional experience through meetings with the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority and a number of other entities working in law enforcement, financial crime prevention, oversight, civil service, public financial management and government procurement.

He said the two sides discussed ways to establish a framework for cooperation and formalize it through memorandums of understanding and joint executive programs, in line with established official procedures, ensuring the sustainability of cooperation and translating it into tangible outcomes.

He noted that Qatar's experience offers a number of model practices worthy of study, particularly in governance, corruption prevention, and the use of technology and data to advance government performance and oversight.

Al Ali said the Syrian delegation was encouraged by the openness and strong willingness demonstrated by its Qatari counterparts, particularly the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, to exchange expertise and support institutional capacity building. He expressed hope that the visit would usher in a new phase of productive and sustainable cooperation between the two countries.

Regarding Syria's administrative reform priorities, Al Ali said the current phase is focused on strengthening the legislative and regulatory framework governing oversight, enhancing the efficiency of oversight personnel and safeguarding their independence, and embedding the principles of integrity and transparency across public institutions and society. Key priorities also include strengthening complaints and reporting mechanisms and improving the effectiveness of internal audit bodies.

Al Ali noted that the Central Authority for Supervision and Inspection is placing particular emphasis on strengthening coordination and integration with law enforcement agencies, which would enhance the effectiveness of oversight and accountability mechanisms and improve institutional performance.

He added that the procurement and contracting system is of particular importance in promoting integrity, transparency and procedural compliance, managing conflicts of interest, and strengthening disclosure requirements, particularly in light of Syria's focus on recovery and reconstruction and the large-scale projects and programs associated with it.

Asked about the role of oversight in creating an attractive environment for investment and partnerships, Al Ali stressed that effective oversight is particularly critical during periods of recovery and reconstruction. He said strong oversight helps ensure a stable, transparent and predictable institutional environment for investors and partners, reinforces the rule of law, and safeguards investors' rights under a clear and reliable legal framework.

Al Ali added that, within its mandate, the Central Authority for Supervision and Inspection is working to develop an oversight model that balances safeguarding public funds with effective administrative and economic decision-making. The model is designed to ensure that oversight supports good governance and sound procedures while contributing to greater confidence in the investment environment.

Al Ali welcomed all investments and partnerships that contribute to Syria's economic recovery and reconstruction, create jobs and improve public services. He also expressed appreciation for Qatar's support for Syria's recovery, including through investments and projects that contribute to development and reconstruction.

Regarding digital transformation, Al Ali said digitization is a key enabler of administrative development, enhanced integrity and corruption prevention. He emphasized that digital transformation should not be viewed merely as a technical project, but rather as a tool for improving procedures and making them more transparent and traceable.

He explained that Syria's Central Authority for Supervision and Inspection aspires to gradually transition toward smart, data-driven oversight based on risk analysis. This would enhance its ability to detect unusual patterns and risk indicators at an early stage, while helping direct oversight efforts and available resources toward the highest-risk operations and sectors.

He pointed out that Qatar's experience offers valuable practices and expertise that Syria can draw on in this field, emphasizing that the objective goes beyond transferring systems and technical solutions to include sharing knowledge, localizing expertise, and building national capacities capable of developing, operating and adapting these tools to Syria's needs and priorities.

Al Ali commended Qatar's role in advancing Arab and international cooperation in the areas of integrity, transparency and anti-corruption, as well as its efforts to promote the exchange of expertise, build institutional capacities, and strengthen channels of communication and coordination among counterpart institutions. He also highlighted the importance of the Conference of States Parties to the Arab Convention against Corruption, hosted by Doha, as a platform for deepening cooperation and facilitating the exchange of expertise among Arab countries.

Al Ali added that cooperation among oversight and anti-corruption bodies has moved beyond formal protocols, given the transnational nature of corruption, financial crimes, money laundering, and the movement of illicit proceeds and assets. Addressing these challenges, he said, requires a high level of coordination, legal and institutional cooperation, and the exchange of expertise and information among countries, in accordance with applicable legislation, agreements and legal frameworks.

He emphasized Syria's commitment to building strong and effective institutions grounded in the rule of law, efficiency, integrity and accountability. He noted that cooperation with the State of Qatar forms part of an institutional partnership that Syria seeks to advance in support of these efforts and to strengthen the capabilities of its national institutions.

Concluding his interview with QNA, Head of Syria's Central Authority for Supervision and Inspection Eng. Amer Al Ali stressed that combating corruption, protecting public funds, and promoting integrity, transparency and accountability lie at the heart of the state-building process, underpinning public confidence in institutions and supporting recovery and sustainable development. (QNA)